[.ca] Kabbalah (ISBN 0452010071)

encyclopedic:
I have learned a great deal from KABALLAH. It is a cross-section of the research of Herr Doktor Gershom Scholem. Each topic is given a concise explanation, including personalities and bibliographic references. When I first read this book, I found the explanations a bit terse. The density of information was overwhelming. Now, that I am more familiar with the work of Professor Scholem, I find this text to be an excellent review. If you are interested in the research of Professor Scholem or in the Kabbalah's historical development, this will be interesting to you.

Review of the 'Kabbalah':
I read the 'Kabbalah' for the 1st time in the early '90's. I can still open it up, to this day, and learn something brand new. Gershom Scholem was a professor of Jewish mysticism at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem until his death in 1982. Among his works are 'Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism', 'The Messianic Idea in Judaism', 'Origins of the Kabbalah', 'Kabbalah', 'On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism', 'On the Mystical Shape of the Godhead', and 'Sabbatai Sevi: The Mystical Messiah'. Every book is a treasure in and of itself. Mr. Scholem put the Kabbalah back on the 20th century map. His studies on the 'Sefer Yetzirah (Book of Creation)', 'The Bahir (Bright)', and 'The Zohar (Splendor)' show the brillance of this unique individual. The 'Kabbalah' is written in 3 parts. The 1st is the Kabbalah itself; from the beginings of mysticism up to modern times (including the disaster brought on by Sabbatai Sevi, that very nearly destroyed Judaism for 250 years afterwards). He also shows the Hasid's (the Ultra-Orthadox Jews) and how the Kabbalah and the Zohar influance their teachings and beliefs. He also shows why regular Orthadox Jews avoid the Kabbalah (calling it Jewish withcraft) and why they considear the Hasid's to be cultists of a sort (even though the Kabbalah WAS Orthadox Judaism for 300 years before the advent of Sabbatai Sevi - which Mr. Scholem painfully points out). He also shows the inept handling by the 'Christian Kabbalists' and occultists in general - neither group prepared to do the initial research that was needed. Both groups had different agendas and used the Kabbalah to further those particular goals. The 2nd part is chocked full of enough goodies to make you swear off dieting for good. The Zohar, the Shabbatean movement, the Frankists, demonology, gemaria (bible codes that change what the Torah says to something else entirly \othe book 'The Bible Code' is an excellent example\c to eventualy write a '6th Book of Moses' written entirly out of codes is the Kabbalists eventual goal), how to make a Golem, Thrown (merkabah) mysticism, and much much more. Lastly, it has the peaple and their histories that make this book such a delight to read. Azriel of Gerona, Moses Cordovero, Joseph Gikatilla, and many more. The 'Lion' and his 'Cubs' give their roar as well. If you have to buy one book on the Kabbalah, then this is the book to get. You will not be sorry in the least. Sincerly, Shawn W. Ooten

Kaballah by Gershom Scholem:
The book Kaballah by Gershom Scholem is certainly an extensive, and complete (to my knowledge) examination of the kaballah, however, it contains some major drawbacks that prevent it from recieving my full recommendation. As a high school junior doing an independent study on religion, I chose this book from the recommendations that said that it was a good overview, a good book for a beginner. I found, however, that this praise was highly misleading. The book is divided into sections: history, basic ideas, topics, and personalities. Each of these sections are subdivided into chapters, each a few pages long. Many of these chapters are interesting, but they lack full explaination of the ideas included. Often, there was just a list of facts and opposing viewpoints, and when i found a sentence that was interesting, Scholem would immediately move on to another source, another name, another viewpoint. Pages would go by before the point of the chapter could be discerned, and even then, was often revealed only vaguely. The hebrew transliterations were also difficult to navigate, for after the english translation was given once, it was as though the reader was simply expected to know it. The chapters often consisted of page after page of other books to look at, other authors to read. As a general overview for a beginner, Kaballah certainly does not qualify. I later learned that the book was written as an encyclopedia, a reference book for scholars. For someone who already had a knowledge of the Kaballah and its ideas, as well as a knowledge of hebrew, Kaballah is most likely a much more interesting and useful book to own. As for someone beginning their studies into this esoteric and mysterious branch of judaism, a more simple, fact based book would serve a much more useful purpose.